Fantasy Football Draft Advice: How to Approach Wide Receiver (2024)

The Wide receiver position has become somewhat perplexing entering the 2024 fantasy football season. It feels like there are about 40 receivers who can finish as a WR1 in any given week, which speaks to the overall depth of the position. But there are always two sides to the coin. And while there are plenty of guys capable of going off any week, they’re equally capable of putting up a disappointing performance.

That puts a greater emphasis on landing at least one of the true WR1s early on in your drafts. But there are plenty of questions with some of the game’s elite receivers, and the tier below that is not only massive but filled with a mix of unproven upside shots and veterans with their fair share of warts.

So, how do we attack this position in our drafts and sift through the thick cloud of uncertainty? Here’s how I’m approaching wide receiver in drafts this season.

2024 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Strategy

The WR1 Conundrum

What makes 2024 such a unique year is that you could argue all of the top 12 receivers in our Expert Consensus Rankings have legitimate questions coming into this season.

CeeDee Lamb is magnificent but is holding out while he awaits a new contract. Ja’Marr Chase is equally as sensational but is also holding out. I’m not overly concerned about either continuing their holdout once the regular season looms closer. But it’s something to be mindful of when committing a top 5 pick on either guy.

Tyreek Hill is probably the most bulletproof of the elite receivers, but he’s had some minor injuries crop up the last two seasons and turned 30 in March. All things considered, he’s still my No. 1 receiver.

Then there’s Justin Jefferson, who is arguably the most talented receiver of the guys mentioned. But by now you know his quarterback situation isn’t exactly ideal. Sam Darnold is a significant downgrade from Kirk Cousins. But we saw Jefferson put up big games with Nick Mullens last season. Jefferson is still in the top tier of pass catchers, and I’m still taking him in the first round. But I’d be lying if I said I’m taking him with as much confidence as last season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown feels relatively safe, although it’s fair to wonder whether the 2023 season was his ceiling. I’ll be paying close attention to how opposing defenses scheme against the Lions offense, especially if a field stretcher doesn’t emerge. It wouldn’t stun me if we saw opponents prioritize defending the short-to-intermediate areas of the field and dare Jared Goff to beat them deep.

I’m comfortable taking both Hill and Lamb over running backs like Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson. But I’d opt for those two running backs over Jefferson, Chase and St. Brown.

Back-End WR1 is Loaded with Questions

The WR1 picture gets muddled from here. A.J. Brown is by far the safest receiver left on the board, but anyone who had him last year probably has a bad taste in their mouth. Jalen Hurts‘ struggles sank the entire Eagles offense, and Brown didn’t even finish as a WR2 during the last four weeks of the season. If Hurts doesn’t turn things around, Brown could be one of the biggest busts in fantasy, although I don’t find that to be a likely outcome.

It gets even messier from there. Garrett Wilson is immensely talented and capable of busting into the elite tier of pass catchers. But we haven’t seen him do it yet, and the questions about Aaron Rodgers‘ durability and ability at 41 years old are legitimate.

Puka Nacua rocks. Last year he was practically free in drafts, if he was drafted at all. It’s the ultimate return on a cheap investment, but now that investment is probably a late first or early second-round pick. He also suffered a knee injury earlier in training camp. And what happens if Cooper Kupp is back and healthy? I love Nacua’s skillset and trust the Sean McVay offense, but it’s important to recognize the cost associated with Nacua is much higher than a year ago.

Speaking of exorbitant prices, I’m totally out on Marvin Harrison Jr. as the WR9. The talent is tantalizing, but I struggle to justify taking rookies this high in drafts. I’ll most likely pass on Harrison, and if he hits I’ll tip my cap.

Rounding out the top 12 receivers are Davante Adams, Drake London and Chris Olave. Adams is by far the most proven commodity and the one I’m most likely to draft, as I’m not as terrified of the Vegas quarterback situation as some are. Remember that Gardner Minshew made Michael Pittman fantasy relevant last year.

I associate London and Olave with Garrett Wilson. Legitimate talents, but they just haven’t proven they can be a WR1 yet. In London’s case, I’m not sure the arrival of Kirk Cousins off a torn Achilles automatically vaults him into WR1 territory. I’m a bigger believer in Olave ascending in a more modern offense in New Orleans. But Derek Carr‘s resistance to push the ball downfield is definitely a concern.

The WR2s I’m Targeting

If you asked 10 fantasy football players to rank WR13-24, I have a feeling you’d get 10 unique answers. There are appeals and risks associated with practically every guy from this point forward. But there are a few guys from this group who I’m targeting as my WR2.

I’m buying the dip on Jaylen Waddle, who still finished as WR24 in fantasy points per game and posted a 1,000-yard season despite playing in just 14 games. Sure, Tyreek Hill is there. But there is plenty to go around in the Miami offense, and if Waddle scores more than four touchdowns this year he should finish at the top of the WR2 tier.

I’ve always been a DK Metcalf fan and will gladly take him as my WR2. He’s a model of consistency, posting at least double-digit touchdowns or 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons. I also think Seattle’s offense will benefit from the departure of Grandpa Pete Carroll. The Seahawks ran the fewest plays a season ago, and if Geno Smith is just average in Ryan Grubb’s more exciting offense, Metcalf should deliver a strong season.

DJ Moore is the last of my WR2 targets, another model of consistency who finally saw his high target rate and reception totals turn into better touchdown luck. Chicago now has a trio of enticing receiving options for rookie QB Caleb Williams, but Moore is still the top dog in the passing game.

Finding Value at WR3

There are a lot of quality receivers who could serve as your WR3 or FLEX option, and it’s why I prefer to slot one of these receivers in as my FLEX when constructing my lineup. Titles could be won based on who you take in this range. Here are the guys I’m targeting who could deliver way more value at their draft position:

I don’t know if Stefon Diggs‘ 2023 season and immediate departure from Buffalo were enough to confirm that he’s past his prime. Diggs is no longer a first-round pick, but he left a good situation in Buffalo for another good situation in Houston. I’ll take the shot that he has at least one great year left.

Tee Higgins may not be a stud WR1, but he’s a high-quality WR2 entering a pivotal contract year. I’m intrigued.

Christian Kirk is another model of consistency, and he’ll still have his role in the Jaguars passing game even with the additions of Brian Thomas and the King of Underwhelming, Gabe Davis.

While I don’t love Rashee Rice‘s off-the-field choices, I don’t think he will be suspended this season. He could, however, be the lead receiver behind Travis Kelce in a Chiefs passing game that I expect to get back on track. Rice might be way undervalued in drafts.

Speaking of undervalued, Chris Godwin is someone I’m targeting in all my drafts. He caught four more balls on six fewer targets than his teammate Mike Evans. Evans had 231 more yards than Godwin, but the real difference came in the touchdown department, where Evans won by a 13-2 margin. I get it, touchdowns are Evans’ calling card. But I’d much rather bet on that touchdown gap shrinking at Godwin’s far more approachable draft price.

Mining for Gold

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that the next Puka Nacua is out there in drafts this year. But having quality depth is crucial given the tumultuous state of the position. Here are some guys I’m taking shots on:

I find it interesting how quickly the market kicked Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the curb after a relatively disappointing rookie campaign. Again, I don’t think Seattle’s old guard knew how to use him. I think we’ll see JSN play more on the outside, where he might be better suited. As the WR40? I’ll take a shot.

While Ladd McConkey is going higher in drafts, I’m willing to take a stab at Joshua Palmer, who will be Los Angeles’ top receiver on the outside. The notion that the Chargers will run the ball 75 times a game is way overblown, as NFL teams simply can’t be that unbalanced. So long as Justin Herbert recovers from plantar fasciitis, I’ll throw a dart on a talented guy who will get the chance to be a featured weapon.

Khalil Shakir is the most intriguing receiver in the Bills room not named Keon Coleman. I’ll stash and see if he plays a significant role out of the slot.

Someone has to catch passes in New England, and I think DeMario Douglas has a legitimate chance to be the WR1 for the Patriots. He’s ranked as the WR65. That’s value, even if it comes mostly on volume.

Articles Fantasy Draft Advice NFL CeeDee Lamb Ja’Marr Chase Tyreek Hill Justin Jefferson Sam Darnold Kirk Cousins Nick Mullens Amon-Ra St. Brown Jared Goff Breece Hall Bijan Robinson A.J. Brown Jalen Hurts Garrett Wilson Aaron Rodgers Puka Nacua Cooper Kupp Marvin Harrison Jr. Davante Adams Drake London Chris Olave Gardner Minshew Michael Pittman Derek Carr Jaylen Waddle DK Metcalf Geno Smith DJ Moore Caleb Williams Stefon Diggs Tee Higgins Christian Kirk Brian Thomas Gabe Davis. Rashee Rice Travis Kelce Chris Godwin Mike Evans Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ladd McConkey Joshua Palmer Justin Herbert Khalil Shakir Keon Coleman DeMario Douglas